the band and Manzanera ’ s assured textures . The album ’ s title track pointed toward Ferry ’ s eventual solo success Boys and Girls and its singles “ Slave to Love ” and “ Don ’ t Stop the Dance .” Singer Yanick Étienne ’ s angelic vocal coda carries Ferry ’ s contemplative and weary dancer away to paradise . Ferry ’ s impressionistic lyrical themes are melancholy , vulnerable , and evocative , as exemplified during “ While My Heart is Still Beating .” Ferry delivers a stunning R & B vocal during the lush and pleading “ To Turn You On .”
These albums represent a remarkable catalog , full of thrilling sounds and fascinating sounds and songs . Despite being aged 40 to 50 years , the music remains fresh , otherworldly , and timeless . Fans can hope that the same can be said for Ferry , Mackay , Manzanera , and Thompson when they appear at United Center on September 19 .
– Jeff Elbel
10 For Your Pleasure
9 Avalon
8 Country Life Siren
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ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS The Boy Named If
( Capitol )
Elvis Costello ’ s last couple of records were intriguing and demonstrated different aspects of his broad musical range . 2018 ’ s Look Now was a set of Burt Bacharach-influenced torch pop . 2020 ’ s Hey Clockface was brash , explosive and experimental . The Boy Named If , however , represents the essence of what draws many to their favorite Costello records with the Attractions and Imposters . Costello experienced a major health scare in 2018 , and it seems as if he returned to action with the determination to let noone write him off . Mission accomplished . The album collects thrilling rock and pop material by the sharp-witted songwriter , delivered with gusto and emotion by his potent and dynamic band . The Imposters played several of these songs earlier this month at Out of Space . The new fare fit well among old favorites like “( I Don ’ t Want to Go to ) Chelsea .” In fact , one of the few disappointments was omission of this album ’ s red hot “ Farewell OK ,” and not hearing it paired with “( What ’ s So Funny ‘ Bout ) Peace , Love and Understanding .” The band did cut loose with slashing spy-movie styled riffs during the willingly wounded rocker “ Magnificent Hurt .” Pete Thomas drums a conga line rhythm for “ The Death of Magic Thinking .” Costello described this song as a reflection of a young man ’ s experience in untested waters . He said it was about “ trying to discover whether that look in someone ’ s eyes is a look of invitation or a look of prohibition . And boy , had you better get that right .” Davey Faragher plays a swooping , McCartney-styled bass line on the album ’ s
title cut , reminiscent of the Beatles ’ “ Come Together .” Cartwheeling pop stomper “ Mistook Me for a Friend ” borrows a measure of New Wave energy from “ Pump it Up ,” featuring Steve Nieve ’ s simultaneously classic and timeless synthesizer sounds dating all the way back to “ Watching the Detectives .” Costello revealed that the rowdy “ Penelope Halfpenny ” was inspired by one of his boyhood schoolteachers , a standout who was suspected to be biding time between her true calling as an international spy or crime reporter . Her lessons and example suggested a rich and adventurous world beyond the mundane school walls . “ The off-kilter The Difference ” tells the tale of a different young woman who turns the tables on her abuser , with deadly results . If there is any justice , the tough and swinging “ What If I Can ’ t Give You Anything but Love ?” will remain in future Imposters set lists and become one of Costello ’ s most acclaimed songs . The band is on fire . The spirit is reminiscent of the time when The Band worked with New Orleans treasure Allen Toussaint for shows commemorated in the Rock of Ages live album . “ Paint the Red Rose Blue ” is a tender portrait of a troubled life , with a man struggling to find purpose in life . “ He had the wildest of dreams , but he rarely remembered them ,” sings Costello . The vibrant R & B track “ My Most Beautiful Mistake ” was introduced as part of the album ’ s loosely connected story . The song is a duet with warm harmony from guest Nicole Atkins . Costello ’ s lyric features a reprehensible character on the prowl at a local diner , posing as a Hollywood screenwriter in search of work . “ The Man You Love to Hate ” is the type of character sketch familiar to fans of King ofAmerica or Spike ’ s “ Let Him Dangle .” The vintage music hall swing helps connect the song to Ray Davies ’ observational fare for the Kinks in songs like “ Sunny Afternoon .” Halloween spooks and classic movie monsters flit among the shadows in the pensive “ Trick of the Truth ,” which also namechecks Marxists Groucho , Chico , Harpo and Karl . The song again veers toward Spike territory , recalling that album ’ s afterlife soliloquy “ God ’ s Comic .”
In addition to Costello ’ s essential first three LPs , this writer ’ s go-to Elvis offerings are King of America , Spike , and The Delivery Man . It feels fortunate to name Costello ’ s 32nd album The Boy Named If as an invigorated addition to the list .
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– Jeff Elbel september 2022 illinoisentertainer . com 19